One of the supplements I take daily is a probiotic, although I have yet to find “my brand” that I must purchase month after month. Usually I just explore a new brand each month, hoping that my research or experience will help me settle down on “the one”.
I recently read an article that suggested that, just like women’s multi-vitamins are catered to the unique biological requirements of the female body and female health, we can and should view our probiotics in much the same way. I had never considered this angle, and honestly, didn’t realize there were “women’s probiotics” options out there. Besides, how can you cater probiotics to women’s health specifically?
Here’s how it works (from the blog that inspired my probiotic switch, Mind Body Green):
When it comes to vaginal tissue, maintaining an optimal pH is important for preventing infections, discomfort, and unpleasant smells.
The term pH is used to describe how acidic or basic something is. The pH scale is between 0 and 14. The lower the number, the more acidic, and the higher the number, the more basic (also referred to as alkaline). For example, tomato juice has a pH of 4. Water is neutral with a pH of 7, and the pH of baking soda, which is basic, is 9.
pH levels vary throughout the body, for example, a low pH is necessary for optimal digestion in your stomach, making it more acidic, whereas other parts of the body would be better with a neutral or even a higher pH.
When it comes to vaginal health, we want a more acidic pH. A normal vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5. If your vaginal pH is too high, your risk of getting a vaginal infection or imbalance increases, like BV (bacterial vaginosis) and yeast infections, which can lead to an unpleasant smell, discharge, and uncomfortable itching.
The most important determinant of our vaginal pH is our vaginal microbiome. Remember, our microbiome constitutes all of the healthy bacteria that cover all aspects of our body, including our digestive system, skin, and, yes, our vaginal area as well. Like the microbiome in our digestive system, sinuses, and skin, the vaginal microbiome is the first line of defense against infections.
The most important group of healthful bacteria in our vaginal area is the Lactobacillus species. The Lactobacillus bacteria in the vaginal area secrete lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which create a more acidic pH. As a result, a deficiency of Lactobacillus in the vaginal area leads to an increase in vaginal pH and an increase in the risk of vaginal infections.
When looking for women’s health probiotics, it’s important to look for formulations that contain Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These strains of good bacteria have been shown to support vaginal health.
I recently just ordered Garden of Life RAW Vaginal Care Probiotics off of Amazon and have begun taking them today. While it’s far too early to determine how I like them, I can say that I am pretty happy with how they sound on paper… (although, full disclosure here, I rarely experience my probiotics as being “good” or “bad”.. I generally don’t notice their effects at all, just trusting that the bugs are doing SOMETHING, lol).
Here’s the stats from Amazon:
DIGESTION SUPPORT: This 50 billion CFU, once-daily probiotic supplement contains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium (Bifidobacteria) lactis, and others for digestive health
PROBIOTIC FOR WOMEN: Features proprietary Vaginal Care Blend with 8 probiotic strains for yeast balance, urinary tract and vaginal health
IMMUNE SUPPORT: 50 billion CFU and 38 probiotic strains harvested directly from Bulgarian yogurt and Eastern European wild kefir
DIGESTIVE ENZYME SUPPLEMENT: Delivers probiotic-created vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics as well as yeast-digesting enzymes. All ingredients are RAW, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, vegetarian probiotic with no binders, fillers, or carriers
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (May 31, 2020): 191.2
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 9.8
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 61.2
